Library Guides: APA (7th Edition) Referencing Guide: First Nations Works

About this page

The following guidance was developed to help readers craft respectful and culturally responsive citations that recognise and acknowledge the diverse range of First Nations Knowledges and voices across various mediums.

Using works of First Nations peoples

First Nations peoples have rich cultures, histories and ways of knowing that enhance the world in so many ways. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, creators and communities are therefore due the respect of correct attribution when their works are utilised by others.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples identify according to their own specific nation, country, language group. They may also include other descents e.g., South Sea Islander and/or their traditional language name. When referencing an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander author or creator:

Ask yourself: "Should I be using/sharing this work?"
Identify the standard format for the source type
Add acknowledgment of the creator's distinct Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage (Nation/Country/Language Group).

For advice on determining whether to use a work visit:

For authoritative guidance on language and terminology visit:

In-text citations

When referring to a senior member of an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, it may be appropriate to use the terms Uncle, Aunty or Elder to show respect and to indicate their respected status. Always check with the person to see how he or she would like to be referred to. He or she may only want their title used within their community.

Follow their Title with Nation/Country and/or Language group information.

Basic in-text citation formats

Formats

Uncle/Aunty/Elder Preferred Name, Nation/Country/Language group, paraphrased text... (Author & Author, YYYY).

Author (Nation/Country/Language group, YYYY) spoke with Uncle/Aunty/Elder Preferred Name, of Nation/Country/Language group, introductory text... "direct quote text..." (p. X).

Examples

Aunty May, Gunaikurnai and Dharawal Country, argues that STEM programs should be delivered on Country (Prikhodko, 2023).

Briggs (a Yorta Yorta and Wamba Wamba woman, 2020) shared that middens provide evidence of Indigenous identity and survival.

Uncle Mick Dodson, Yawuru, proposed "if the images of Aboriginality do not reflect us, it is not actually about us" (as cited in Shay, 2023, pp. 328-329).

Indigenous author or coauthor citing Indigenous Knowledges: Elder status, Nation, Country, and/or Language group is known.

Where there is 1 Indigenous author, Nation/Country/Language group information can be included inside an in-text citation. In this example square brackets [ ] are used as this is the way APA formats information that is already within parentheses ().

Example

"... strengthening relationships" (Geia [Bwgcolman, Palm Island], 2012, p. 283).

In cases of multiple authors who may be Indigenous, non-Indigenous or have differing Nation, Country and/or Language identities, it is recommended that this information is included in the sentence text or in a footnote at the bottom of the page (to avoid confusion with the other authors).

Examples

Uncle Roy Patterson¹ was passionate about sharing generational knowledge with his community (Jones & Patterson, 2020).

¹ Uncle Roy Patterson was a respected Taungurung Elder. Taungurung people and Country are located in Central Victoria.

Knowledge Gifter and Anishinaabe Grandmother, Sherry Copenace shared, " ...I know what we have as Indigenous people can help other people too" (Copenace et al., 2022).^1-4

¹Sherry Copenace is an Anishinaabe Knowledge Gifter and Grandmother. Anishinaabe peoples are concentrated around the North American Great Lakes across both Canadian and United States borders.

² Dr Jaime Cidro, Anishnawbe, is a Professor at the University of Winnipeg.

³ Anna Johnson is First Nations, Inuit and Métis, undertaking her doctorate at the University of Guelph.

⁴ Dr Kim Anderson is an Indigenous (Métis) scholar and Associate Professor at the University of Guelph.

Non-Indigenous author citing Indigenous Knowledges: Elder status, Nation, Country and/or Language group is known.

Examples

Elder Phillip West, Ngaanyatjarra, shared "we left him and he camped here" (Griffiths, 2018, p. 68).

...teaching traditional skills (Kalkadoon Traditional Knowledge, cited in Munday, 1982).

Non-Indigenous author citing general Indigenous Knowledge: No details provided regarding the source.

Examples

...Rainbow Serpent, which symbolises creation (Traditional Knowledge, Australia, cited in Armstrong, 1995).

NOTE: Be as specific as possible, e.g., Torres Strait Islands Knowledge, Australia. Vary language to be appropriate to the circumstance, e.g., Indigenous Oral Tradition, Australia.

Non-Indigenous author citing Indigenous Knowledges: Without permission and/or appropriate acknowledgement

Ask yourself if using this content is respectful or appropriate. Try to find a better source, or provide context.

Standard pattern for reference acknowledgment

The standard pattern for acknowledging First Nations status is following the author's name with the author's Nation, Country and/or Language group.

Books

Format	Author, A. A. (Nation/Country/Language group), & Author, B. B. (Nation/Country/Language group). (Date). Title in sentence case: Subtitle (edition, if not the first). Publisher. URL or DOI (if electronic)
Example	Janke, T. (Meriam & Wuthathi). (2021). True tracks: Respecting Indigenous Knowledge and culture. NewSouth Publishing.

Chapter from an Edited Book

Format

Author, A. A. (Nation/Country/Language group). (Date). Title of chapter: Subtitle. In A. Editor (Nation/Country/Language group; Ed.) & B. Editor (Nation/Country/Language Group; Ed.), Title of book: Subtitle (edition*, pages of chapter). Publisher. DOI or URL (if electronic)

*if not the first edition - do not include edition information for first editions.

NOTE: In APA you avoid putting information that belongs in brackets next to each other. Instead, the two pieces of information should share the same set of brackets, and be separated by a semicolon. If the Editors have identity information in brackets next to their name, then the Ed. moves to be included in the same brackets - and is used for each editor, rather than haveing (Eds.) as a catch-all for all editors.

Example

McAvoy, T. (Wirdi). (2016). Building our house. In M. Davis (Cobble Cobble; Ed.) & M.J. Langton (Yiman & Bidjara; Ed.), It’s our country: Indigenous arguments for meaningful constitutional recognition and reform (pp. 42-47). Melbourne University Press.

Books Where Creators Play Specific Roles

Format	Creator, C. C. (Nation/Country/Language group; Role). (Date). Title of book: Subtitle. Publisher. DOI or URL (if electronic)
Example	Tutt, C. (Kamilaroi; Author), & Hill, A. (Wiradjuri; Illustrator). (2021). The first scientists. Hardie Grant Publishing.

Journal Article

Format	Author, A. A. (Nation/Country/Language group), & Author, B. B. (Nation/Country/Language group). (Date). Title of article: Subtitle. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), Article number, page numbers of the whole article. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/xxxx
Example	Marika, R. (Yolngu), Yunupingu, Y. (Yolngu, Rirratjingu & Yirrkala), Marika-Mununggiritj, R. (Yolngu), & Muller, S. (2009). Leaching the poison–the importance of process and partnership in working with Yolngu. Journal of Rural Studies, 25(4), 404-413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2009.05.007

Reference list examples

Single Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Author Examples

Geia, L. (Bwgcolman). (2012). First steps, making footprints: Intergenerational Palm Island families Indigenous stories (narratives) of childrearing practice strengths [PhD thesis]. James Cook University.

Janke, T. (Meriam & Wuthathi). (2021). True tracks: Respecting Indigenous Knowledge and culture. NewSouth Publishing.

Milpurrurru, G. (Gurrumba Gurrumba, Ganalbingu). (1991). The land is living, the past is present [Acrylic on bark]. James Cook University. https://nqheritage.jcu.edu.au/750/

Watego, C. (Mununjali Yugambeh & South Sea Islander). (2021). Another day in the colony. University of Queensland Press.

Two or More Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Authors or Editors

McAvoy, T. (Wirdi). (2016). Building our house. In M. Davis (Cobble Cobble) & M.J. Langton (Yiman & Bidjara). (Eds.), It’s our country: Indigenous arguments for meaningful constitutional recognition and reform (pp. 42-47). Melbourne University Press.

Drummond, A. (Meriam & Wuthathi), Mills, Y. (Torres Strait Islander), Mills, S. (Torres Strait Islander) & Nona, F. (Torres Strait Islander). (2021). Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. In O. Best & B. Federicks. (Eds.), Yatdjuligin (pp. 81-103). Cambridge University Press.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Authors Publishing with Non-Indigenous Authors

Biles, B. (Murrawarri) & Biles, J. (2019). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in healthcare. Oxford University Press.

Redman-MacLaren, M., Turner, N. N. (Anmatyerre & Jaru)., Taylor, J., Laycock, A., Vine, K., Thompson, Q. (Gurindji), Larkins, S., Carlisle, K., Thompson, S., Bailie, R., & Matthew, V. (Quandamooka). (2021, July 16). Respect is central: A critical review of implanting frameworks for continuous quality improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, Article 630611, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.630611

Personal communication, oral teachings, storytelling and yarning methodology

Personal communication is used for any information that is given to you 'in person'. To recognise oral communication from an Elder or Knowledge Keeper within text, the APA format to follow is personal communication.

When referring to a senior member of an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, it may be appropriate to use the terms Uncle, Aunty or Elder to show respect and to indicate their respected status. Always check with the person to see how he or she would like to be referred to. He or she may only want their title used within their community.

Personal communication is not recorded in your reference list. You only refer to it in text.

Personal Communications for Individuals

Formats

We spoke with Uncle/Aunty/Elder Preferred Names (Nation/Country/Language Group) and Uncle/Aunty/Elder Preferred Names (Nation/Country/Language Group, personal communication*, Month DD, YYYY) who shared that...

...was considered deeply significant (Initials Surname, Nation/Country/Language Group, personal communication*, Month DD, YYYY).

Personal Communications for Groups or Organisations

Formats

We spoke with Organisation Name (Nation/Country/Language Group, personal communication*, Month DD, YYYY) who shared that...

...was considered deeply significant (Organisation Name, Nation/Country/Language Group, personal communication*, Month DD, YYYY).

Dharriwaa Elders Group (Wayamba & Yuwaalaraay & Ngayiimbaa) spoke on the importance of traditional bush foods (personal communication, January 10, 2000).

...discussed cultural burning (Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation, Kuku-Thaypan Country, personal communication, June 5, 2017).

*If the communication was received via a yarning circle or sharing session (a common method used by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for communicating) use yarning circle instead of personal communication.

Example: "Stories about the Rainbow Serpent were shared including how it formed the land and shaped the environment" (Preferred Name, yarning circle, Month DD, YYYY).

Sharing your lived experience

If you are an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person sharing your own experiences (this includes the Nation, Country, Language Group or Community where you live and belong), you don’t need to include an in-text citation or reference list entry.

Express yourself in detail in the body of your text to conceptualise the information you are sharing.

Author has more than two traditional language groups, countries or nations

Where an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander author identifies with more than two nation, country or language groups, follow same format as above and include a comma between each followed by an ampersand (&) between the second last and last.

Format	Author, A. A. (Nation/Country/Language group, Nation/Country/Language group & Nation/Country/Language group).
Example	Ropeyarn, Y. (Angkamuthi, Yadhaykana, Woppaurra & Meriam). (2022). Referencing Indigenous peoples Knowledge APA style. James Cook University Library. hhttps://www.jcu.edu.au/library/xxxx

Traditional language name used as the first, last or middle name

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may use their Traditional Language name either as their first, last or middle names. In such cases, their Traditional Language Name is spelled out in full, even if it occurs where a first or middle name would normally be expressed as an initial.

Format	Author, Traditional Language name. A. (Nation/Language Group/Country). (Date).
Example	Sentance, N. Mudyi. (Wiradjuri). (2023).

Unknown language group, traditional country, nation or island nation

When a First Nations person's Language Group/Nation/Country/Island Nation is unknown or not identified, an appropriate option for demonstrating respect may be using the terms such as Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or descent after their name (if known). It may be appropriate to use these terms when:

The Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person prefers to use these terms
It is general knowledge (e.g. stated by media outlets) that the person actively identifies as being of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander decent, e.g., Cathy Freeman, Patty Mills and Noel Pearson.

Format	Author, A.A. (Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, both or descent; South Sea Islander). (Date).
Example	Freeman, C. (Australian Aboriginal). (2023).
	Mills, P. (Torres Strait Islander and Australian Aboriginal decent). (2022).
	Pearson, N. (First Nations Australian). (2020).
	Watego, C. (South Sea Islander). (2021).

Acknowledgements

This webpage expands upon APA Style 7th edition guidance for citing Traditional Knowledge or the Oral Traditions of Indigenous peoples.

The project development team were inspired by the pioneering efforts of Lorisia MacLeod (James Smith Cree Nation) and the influential work of Dr Terri Janke (Wuthathi and Meriam), True tracks principles: Respecting Indigenous Knowledge and culture. UTS Library, UQ Library, SCU Library and UBC Library APA library guides also provided invaluable guidance.